Principal's Daily

Good morning and welcome to the Feast of Guadalupe and our final week of school in 2016!

Mass on Friday followed by Town Hall and early dismissal.

Christmas Sing on Thursday at 1:00 and 7:00.

PTG tomorrow night at 7:00pm.

Here’s a really good piece on Math entitled “Supporting Clear and Concise Mathematics Language” by Elizabeth Hughes, Sarah Powell, and Elizabeth Stevens in Teaching Exceptional Children, from the September/October 2016 issue. ) give an example of how even a well-meaning teacher can further handicap a student with a mathematics disability. During a fractions unit, Jack’s teacher refers to the numerator as the “top number” and the denominator as the “bottom number.” When Jack takes the end-of-chapter test, one item asks, What is the least common denominator of 1/2 and 2/5? Jack answers, “1.” When questioned about his incorrect answer, he says, “I know how to find the least common bottom number!” Despite hundreds of hours of multi-tiered support each year, students like Jack continue to score in the bottom quartile on standardized tests. Hughes, Powell, and Stevens believe using imprecise or oversimplified mathematics language may be part of the explanation. By the end of first grade, there are over 105 novel math vocabulary terms that children are expected to know. By fifth grade, there are more than 325. “Mathematics vocabulary is often difficult for children because many terms have meanings in general English and meanings specific to mathematics,” say the authors – for example, factor and product. “Children should learn mathematics skills in accurate contexts that provide a solid foundation on which to build more complex skills in later grades… Because clear and concise mathematical language sets children up for success, educators in subsequent grade levels may not have to reteach so many misconceptions related to language and rules.” Hughes, Powell, and Stevens provide specific suggestions for precise language in five areas of the mathematics curriculum.

This weekend the candle of JOY was illuminated and as we draw near to our Savior’s birth, I wish you and your respective families all the love, peace, hope, and JOY that Advent brings. I wish you wonderful memories with your kids and each other this week. Please keep in mind that this is our last time together with our blessed 8th grade so enjoy their company. Have a great week of teaching and learning and thanks for all that you are and do. God Bless you always.